Go here with no expectations and you'll have a fun comical night! The bartenders were good and the drinks were strong.

Steer clear of the bald bartender on the first floor Monday nights. After 8 drinks (and tipping well) I'm still sober. Weakest drinks i have ever had in my life. Won't be back for a while... Still love Bianca del rio though! read more

This review is based on the low-life bouncers this establish hires to take advantage of their power to do what they want to do like to say "I work here, so I can cut in line to use the restroom!" Except I was next in line and did not let him because of what his excuse was. I told him there's a line of people that have been waiting to use the restroom. So he decided to drag me down and hand me to the other bouncer who did not listen to what I have to say. So I decided to take my business elsewhere as y'all should to. Besides, clubs down the street like Therapy and Industry have cheaper drinks and way better music anyway. As for the bouncer who kicked me out, at least he didn't get to cut in line because he was too busy getting paid to get rid of this club's customers as he pleased. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! This is my Go to bar every time I'm in the city. Everyone who I bring here falls in love with the ritz. My friends want to come here more than I do. It's a great place to dance and drink. They have drag queens walking around. It gets really crowded but getting a drink isn't that hard. The top floor is good but the bottom floor gets really hot!!! So make sure you aren't wearing a sweater or else you'll faint. There's no real dress code for this place but still come dressed nice cause you don't know who you'll meet that night. read more

Awesome music, awesome energy, and awsome bartenders! Deffenitly showed this CALI boy some love... Will forsures go back before i go home...thanks guys!!! read more

I was there last night. Bouncer asked me for ID, I provided my NY state license. After a few minutes of staring at my license, I asked him what the problem was and he didn't reply. So I ask him if he wants another ID just to speed the process up since I was meeting friends inside. He didn't answer, but I gave him my NYC issued ID. He stares at both, then me, then the ID. So once again I ask him what the issue is, both IDs are me, photo on license might be a bit older but both have my full name, address, height, signature. He finally answers and says "you have 2 fat lips on the license and I see 2 skinny lips in person." Then he says "and you have a bigger nose on the license and not in person". I was shocked at what he said... translation: you don't look as ethnic as you do on your license. I've never had anything done to my face, so it was crazy to hear this especially since he had 2 IDs issued by the state and city. But he now asked me if I had a work ID....wtf. What's a work ID going to do? How legit can a work ID be if you can't even verify if it's a real company. I told him no... then I told him I don't understand the issue. He says I'm goin to need a second opinion, so I said go ahead and get one because this is the craziest thing I've ever experienced at a bar, specially since I've been here a thousand times. But instead of getting a the second opinion he just stood there. It had to have been at least 15 minutes of this BS and he wasn't even trying to get a second opinion. So I said forget it I'm going somewhere else. Grabbed my IDs and my friends and I left. I understand the need to verify IDs, but i. provided 2 of my IDs. Real IDs. And this mans comments sounded very racist. On top of it while he was doing this, I saw him not even look at IDs being shown to him as people walked in. I saw a drag queen show him an ID of someone that looked nothing like them, yet he didn't bat an eyelash. But here I am with my license and city ID and he's giving all kinds of drama. I call BS and racism. Where's the owner or management when you need them? read more

Pro: Amazing music and super friendly people. Con: Saw douchebonnet Perez Hilton in sloppy pajamas, and some Eurotrash getting hauled out by the legs across the pavement for being, well, Eurotrash. read more

I adore The Ritz. Definitely one of my favorite places to dance in NYC. There's an upstairs and a downstairs, which is nice if you want a change of scenery or just don't like the song the DJ is playing. Door staff and bartenders have always been super friendly, or at least courteously professional (I'm a straight girl, so I'm definitely not expecting much in the way of attention). Drinks are cheaper than most of the straight bars in the area (usually $6 for a vodka soda), and on par with or on the cheaper end of the other gay bars in the area. My drinks have always been strong. Clientele is quite the mix. Young/old and everything in between. Just kind of depends on the night. Hell, I've even stumbled across a straight boy or two here. Overall the crowd tends to be chill, drunk and friendly. One warning, and the reason I took off one star - it can get CROWDED. There's almost always a healthy crowd on Fri/Sats, but every once in awhile it gets ridiculously packed (and hot/sweaty). Be prepared to sweat if you stumble in on one of those nights. read more

The music is great, the crowd is friendly and the bartenders are hot! I've been to The Ritz for birthday celebrations and I really had a very good time. read more

I've been going to the Ritz for years, and it is consistently a great time! Despite being such a large city, Ritz still manages to provide the "neighborhood bar" feel, where the bartenders, performers, bouncers, and DJs get to know you, know your name, know your orders, and always make you feel welcome. One bartender specifically, Michael Bailey, has not only become my go-to bartender, he is someone who I consider a friend. He is always ready to whip up my typical grapefruit vodka concoction, while inquiring about whatever recent shenanigans I've been getting into and providing advice with his typical comedic flair. The crowd is also there to have a good time, and, unlike many NYC gay bars/clubs, it is a place where you can be yourself, let your hair down, and not worry in the slightest about judgement being thrown your way. The music is generally pop music with upbeat remixes and the place is packed with people dancing until they close at 4 a.m. Whether you are in town visiting or a local, Ritz is definitely a place you need to stop by and visit! read more

Always a lot of fun here! I love that they have 2 dance floors and the people here actually know how to DANCE! Bartenders are friendly and the DJs always play the right songs to keep the crowd going! read more

uh hell yea the ritz is probably one of the best bars in nyc. A good mix of young and old. Its not all cun** if you know what i mean. Bartenders are nice...theyre all a tease. and the shows are good. my go to spot for a low key or out of control night. read more

too much claustrophobia and hyperthermia i'd die if they didn't have that cold air blasty thing. read more

I have had a great night here in the past and have always recommended this place as a dance spot, if that's what someone is looking for. Unfortunately, the last time I visited, my experience left something to be desired. My boyfriend's brother and his partner were visiting from out of town and I raved about the bar, insisting that we go. After waiting in line, the extremely rude bouncer denied me entry because he claimed my ID is fake (it's not, I'm well over the drinking age at 24). I moved here a year ago from South Carolina, so naturally my identification is an SC Driver's License. I'm sure that college students in the city use other States for their fakes, but instead of trying to scan my driver's license or asking for proof of identification, he bent my license in half and ruined it. His justification for not letting me in the bar was that my ID "isn't supposed to do that"; but logically, what do you think is going to happen if you bend a piece of laminated cardboard in half? Needless to say, I was wrongfully turned away and my group took the party elsewhere. It'll be a while before I go back to the Ritz, if at all. read more

It was just ok I guess. Went there last week for my friends bday and I thought the drinks were overpriced and the wait for the bathroom sucked. The music wasn't bad but I guess I wasn't really feeling the crowd. read more

Although the night I went it wasn't busy, I can tell that this must be a fun place to hang out to dance! The bar area was fun but I loved the back area where you can kind of sit and take it all in. I think it has great drink specials and if you're hopping around to bars, this is one that you should go to! read more

so its a cute, coy place. Love the decor , but i dont love the service as much. A bartender who was more occupied with his cell phone than he was with the customer. 5 pm on a fri, approx 12 guys there and most cups were in need of a fill. No fri happy hour prices. (unless 8 bux IS there happy hour price) I guess Im just used to the other gay bars around there with awesome happy hour specials. Id only go again if one of my friends chose it as his "bday celebration place"..... read more

So now I've had a few times at the Ritz, my experiences have ranged from it can't get any better to eh. This is why the 4-star rating. Really I like The Ritz. I've never had a bad time while there but I have had a fairly boring time while there. Every single time though, my drinks are amazingly priced and fantastic. One of the best things about their happy hour is it doesn't just apply for the house brand- all brands, top shelf and all, are included. That's nice! The bartenders are also pretty cute and always cool. On a good night, The Ritz will have you dancing on top of the booths and it is the most fun you will have. The music is normally good and there's a pretty nice little vibe going on. It can either be a good place to just sit back with your friends and cheap drinks or for a great cheap night out. I am a fan. read more

The Ritz is a disaster. The space is cramped, the bartender is useless, and the music is deafening. Unbearable!

Can get a bit crowded, but good place to dance, ok drink prices. A bit small space but fun

Over the past few years, the Ritz has managed to stay one of the best places to go out and have a great time, despite all the changes in the neighbourhood. It's a great space, and usually has the best mix of great-looking folks without the HK attitude. The music is always fun, and the staff are really friendly. It's been my go-to neighbourhood bar ever since I've moved into the area; whether you want a great night out on the town or just a low-key drink with a mate after work, you can't go wrong with the Ritz. read more

This was a crazy little dance party. Although some folks were a bit much, a little snoooty, and a lot dirty...the music downstairs was loud and earth shaking. That's why we had a pretty good time. If you want to just dance all night...this is the spot! read more

Probably the best gay bar in Hell's Kitchen - always a good time. If you want to dance, there's a dance floor, if you want to socialize, upstairs is great for that. The crowd always seems to have a good time and isn't pretentious like at some other places. I meet more new people here than anywhere, people seem really open to talking to each other, which is not always the case at other places. And if I show up it is almost guaranteed I will run into some people I know. In Midtown it's really the place to go if you want to cut loose, get pretty plastered, and just have a good time with friends without any hassle or attitude. read more

One of my favorites, and probably among the best places to go out dancing in the Hells Kitchen area. The layout is a bit unusual and awkward, with a long bar along a narrow hallway leading back to a more open dance floor with tiered risers along the wall. It gets pa Jed back there and you'll probably have a drink spilled on you at some point, but what fun! Beat pumping, crazy lights flashing all over the place, guys grinding all over the place, people up on the risers putting on a show - always a good time. There's an upstairs as well, that is sometimes open. Go upstairs when you're done on the dance floor as its a bit more subdued and much easier to carry on a conversation. Also easier to get served a drink as well and get away from the crowd. If you go earlier in the day, for happy our for instance, it's quite a surreal experience as the dance floor is empty and the risers in back are really just benches that they move small cocktail tables in front of when nobody's dancing - weird, who knew? Always a fun time, you should check it out, especially if you're in the mood to dance. read more

This place is the only place where Happy Hour is truly a magical time for all! Here you will discover hours of laughs, make wonderful new friends and be greeted with the most incredible service by some awesome bartenders! As the successor to Houdini - this is the only place I frequent for Happy Hour - and will do so until the end of time! My hat goes off to the incredible Cole C., Adam C., Xavier, Steve and Marco for their talent at making everyone feel at home and providing the best service I have ever encountered throughout New York City's Bar life! You guys simply rock!! read more

You can seriously NOT get better than The Ritz. The production level for a free bar is INSANE...you get lasers, lights, smoke and BASS all for free! It's like a mini-Pacha! The employees are always smiling and happy and the crowd is always cute. You can guarantee that you will have fun here when all other places fail or are closed. read more

I got a friend who is Colombian and he been travel to here few days ago for vacation and when he went to the ritz so he can't enter with his Colombian Id ,the guards guys said to him he needs a official id of New York off course he hasn't because he isn't from ny he is just a tourist and he wanted know gay clubs had some fun is so ridiculous they have supposed have a sign to say if you aren't from New York you can't enter to there lol so ridiculous that's why if you are Colombian you can't go that place without your id of New York lol so rude with tourists I said again I hope the owner see this review and notice he has a asshole guards I'm pretty sure the owner of this place didn't know about that incidents and racist and bullshit of the security guards. So can't compare with the bartenders are really nice and cute and sweet people. read more

I've had some fun nights here, but I think the missing element at this bar is very clear: service. I find that the bartenders are often spacey and inefficient. They're not exactly unfriendly, but put a lackluster effort into tending bar. At the risk of sounding mean, I have to say that they're not so extraordinarily physically attractive that customers will be willing to overlook subpar service. When I was there this past Saturday night, the barbacks were downright rude. They were doing that slightly bothersome thing where they insist on removing all the chairs. My friend stood up for one second and his chair disappeared from behind him: They didn't ask, tell him what they were doing, or apologize. When I pointed out that they'd taken the chair right from under him, the guy just shrugged. Then he insisted that everyone else give up their chairs, and he was, again, totally unapologetic. It's a crowded gay nightlife scene in Hell's Kitchen. If the Ritz wants to stay competitive into the future, it's the small, precise improvements that will help it stand out. My advice to the manager is to train your employees to provide better service. read more

Nice people. Good music and entertainment. And drinks are strong. But I won't go back? Why? Because the bouncers are complete A-holes. I get it, they deal with a lot of drunk people. But for some reason they're just complete d*cks to anyone and it feels unwelcoming, especially to gay people for some reason. I'd rather take my money elsewhere and start off on the right foot read more

First time there..had a blast! No entry fee and the drinks weren't to bad...a bit crowded and the bathrooms were NASTY! But overall had a blast and the atmosphere was good. The DJ played a good selection and everyone was super chill. Def going again! read more

I looooved this place, I finally found a great club with great music in NYC. Loved the drags, the dancers, it was incredible fun. Straight guys won't be very happy at this place just because 80% of the crowd is gay guys, I didn't feel weird at all but it's def not a place packed with girls and couples, which makes no difference for me. The only bad side to it it's that it's too small for me, and the downstairs floor is way too hot. read more

The place is ok, the attendant is very nice. However most of the guys go there are like "slot machines"... I think that is difficult to find nice people in that bar read more

I always always have a great time at this place. Kinda narrow on both floors but hey its completely worth it. They have a nice tented front area at the door where you can hang out and smoke a cig and see everyone who enters. The bartenders are always so cute and nice. And the dance scene and music is always a 10 for me. When other places fail me I always end my night here with my Gay friends and it's a BLAST. Not to mention coat check was only 3 dollars atleast the night I went on my bday 12/16. I'd recommend this to any and everyone who loves gay bars and will be returning soon. read more

The Ritz is douchey. I don't like the vibe here. I would say there are better gay bars around HK.

Kinda love this spot came this weekend with friends and had such a good time. The owner actually bought us a round for my friends birthday. I really enjoyed the music and the mix of cool people, I'll be back soon read more

Been many times on visits to HK. DONT come here if u are not a fan of a packed to the rafters scene. DO come here if you love a crazy frat house come as you are dance party. Normally I do but this past Thursday was so insane and people were so rude and blocking you from walking around that I didnt stay. The chocolate was amazing however. I will come back but this isnt for the casual club or scene person. Not for the faint of heart. read more

The worst dj ever! Doesn't know how to switch the song!................, ...................,...,.,,,,,

Freddie, Anton, lance, and the bouncer John are amazing people! They made my experience so worth while and I will diffidently be back! I love this bar!!!! read more

The Ritz is great on the weekdays for a casual drink with friends. The drinks are fairly priced and not weak. Weekends are great as well. Good music and the crowd is very mixed. Can get quite packed, but who wants to be at an empty bar? read more

I went to The Ritz for the first time right after my 21st birthday. I have to say that, though it was slightly crowded and though I wasn't a huge fan of the packed dance floor next to the bar, the clientele are quite friendly. Someone randomly started chatting me up and I didn't really sense any of the bitchiness I get at some other bars. The music videos playing on the screens at the bar were an added plus--at least for me. Overall, I had a pretty good first experience. Will definitely go again soon. read more